Poinsettia plant named ‘Gala White’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Gala White’, characterized by its long-lasting white colored flower bracts and dark green foliage.

Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Varietal denomination: ‘Gala White’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbiapulcherrima known by the varietal name ‘Gala White’.

The new cultivar was discovered in Florida as a naturally-occurringbranch mutation of Poinsettia variety ‘Gala Red’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,994). The new variety was first asexually reproduced by tip cuttingsin Florida and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by tip cuttingsthereafter. Continued observations from the vegetative cuttings haveconfirmed that the distinguishing features of this new cultivar cometrue, remain stable and are retained through successive propagations.

The following traits are determined to be basic characteristics of thisnew cultivar which in combination distinguish this poinsettia as new anddistinct:

-   -   1. Compact and upright growth habit.    -   2. Little or no growth regulators needed.    -   3. Striking white variety with dark leaves and broad bracts.    -   4. Does not heat delay under high night temperatures during bud        set.    -   5. Highly branched after the removal of the apical meristem        which provides a display of bracts over the top of the plant.    -   6. Long lasting, retaining leaves and bracts for an extended        duration when displayed indoors.    -   7. Desirable cyathia size and retention under stressful        environmental conditions.    -   8. Strong branches that can hold large bracts and exhibit good        branch angles.    -   9. Free from major diseases or insect problems.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Poinsettia from othercultivated Poinsettias of this type known to the inventor. Thecharacteristics are described with comparative reference to parentcultivar ‘Gala Red’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,994).

-   -   1. ‘Gala White’ has 158D colored bracts, while ‘Gala Red’ has        45A colored bracts.    -   2. ‘Gala White’ has a leaf petiole color of 146D, while ‘Gala        Red’ has a petiole leaf color of 184A.    -   3. ‘Gala White’ has a bract petiole color of 160C, while ‘Gala        Red’ has a bract petiole color of 46A.    -   4. ‘Gala White’ has an anther color of 11B, while ‘Gala Red’ has        an anther color of 185A.    -   5. ‘Gala White’ has a keeping quality of eight weeks or longer,        while ‘Gala Red’ has a keeping quality of six weeks or longer.

The following characteristics also distinguish the new Poinsettia fromother cultivated Poinsettias of this type known to the inventor. Thecharacteristics are described with comparative reference to ‘FestivalWhite’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,804).

-   -   1. ‘Gala White’ has 158D colored bracts, while ‘Festival White’        has 158C colored bracts.    -   2. ‘Gala White’ has a plant height of 24 to 26 cm, while        ‘Festival White’ has a plant height of 25 to 30 cm.    -   3. ‘Gala White’ has a keeping quality of eight weeks or longer,        while ‘Festival White’ has a keeping quality of six weeks or        longer.    -   4. ‘Gala White’ has a leaf length of 12 to 13 cm and a leaf        width of 8 to 9 cm, while ‘Festival White’ has a leaf length of        10 to 11 cm and a leaf width of 7 to 8 cm.    -   5. ‘Gala White’ has a bract length of 12 to 13 cm and a bract        width of 9 to 10 cm, while ‘Festival White’ has a bract length        of 14 to 15 cm and a bract width of 8 to 9 cm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new cultivar, thecolor being as nearly true as possible with color illustrations of thistype.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants were grown during thewinter of 2003 in Lompoc, Calif., in a double poly greenhouse. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18 to 21° C.,night temperatures ranged from 16.5 to 18° C. and light levels averagedfrom 3000 to 4000 foot candles of light. Rooted cuttings were planted in15 cm containers and the new variety was approximately 13-14 weeks oldwhen described.

-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 14 days at 21° C.            Winter: About 18 days at 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Summer: About 21 days at            21° C. Winter: About 25 days at 21° C.        -   Time to produce a finished plant from            planting.—Approximately 14 weeks.        -   Root description.—Thick and fibrous, freely branching,            moderately dense and white in color.-   The plant:    -   -   Classification.—Botanical — Euphorbia pulcherrima.            Commercial — ‘Gala White’.        -   Form.—Upright and V-shaped plant habit.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 24 to 26 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 45 to 50 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Vigor.—Good.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Branches from all nodes after pinching. The            bottom breaks elongate faster than the top breaks. Pinching            is required to enhance lateral branch development.        -   Lateral branches.—Number: Seven or more depending on the            number of nodes left after pinching. Length: 18 cm.            Diameter: 7 mm. Internode length: Generally from 1 to 2 cm,            mostly 1 cm. Stem color: 146B. Texture: Glabrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate. Number of leaves per lateral            branch: Eleven. Shape: Ovate with deep lobing. Apex:            Acuminate to acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire with lobing            present. The lobing is oak leaf-like, with two lobes having            a deeper cut at the basal end. Length: 12 to 13 cm. Width: 8            to 9 cm. Texture: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface:            Glabrous, but rugose because of protruding veins.            Pubescence: Not present. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Young            leaf color: Upper and lower surface: 146C. Mature leaf            color: Upper surface: Deeper than 147A. Lower surface: 147B.            Vein color: Upper surface: 147B. Midrib: 147B. Lower            surface: 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 5.0 to 5.5 cm, but varies with the position            on the stem. Diameter: 3 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D.-   Flower:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Over the top of the plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—November 25 to 30 in Lompoc,            Calif. conditions.        -   Time to flower.—8 to 8½ weeks.        -   Longevity.—More than three months under greenhouse            conditions and more than eight weeks under interior            conditions.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—30 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—3 to 4 cm.        -   Fragrance.—None present.        -   Bracts.—Number per inflorescence: 20 to 25 with continued            development as the plant matures. Aspect: Flat to slightly            drooping. Texture: Glabrous with slight rugose texture due            to veining. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Lobation: Not present. Length: 12 to 13 cm            at maturity. Width: 9 to 10 cm. Young bract color: Upper and            lower surfaces: 158C. Mature bract color: Upper and lower            surfaces: 158D fading to 158C. Petiole: Length: 2.0 cm for            lower bracts and 1.0 cm for upper bracts. Diameter: 3.0 mm.            Color: 160C.        -   Cyathia.—Number per inflorescence: 10 to 15, but more            develop as the plant ages. Diameter of cluster: 3 cm. Shape:            Rounded. Length: 10 mm. Diameter: 5 mm. Color: Immature:            144B. Mature: 146B. Nectary: Number per cyathia: One. Size:            4 mm. Color: 17A. Peduncle: Length: 2 mm. Diameter: 1 mm.            Angle: 45°. Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            146C. Stamens: Quantity per flower: Over 50. Anther shape:            Oblong. Anther size: 1 mm. Anther color: 11B. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 21A. Pistils: Quantity per            inflorescence: Five or more. Length: 8 mm. Style length:            2 mm. Style color: 144D. Stigma shape: Star-shaped with six            points. Stigma color: 151A. Ovary color: 146C.-   General:-   Disease/pest resistance: No unusual disease or pest resistance    observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new variety have been observed    to tolerate low temperatures of 10° C. and high temperatures of 27°    C.-   Fruit or seed production: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Poinsettia plant named ‘Gala White’ asherein described and illustrated.